U.K. government-backed Carbon Trust Investments on Monday joined a group of investors pumping $26 million into CamSemi, a semiconductor maker that touts energy efficiency.
The investment was led by 3i and included Scottish Equity Partners and TTP Ventures. Carbon Trust put in $4 million.
CamSemi is a so-called fabless semiconductor maker, a chip maker that designs and sells but outsources the manufacturing, or "fabrication," to an outside facility.
Energy lost in the form of heat, such as when computers are in standby or cell phones are charging, is a persistent problem companies are trying to solve. Both environmentalists and governments are getting into the act.
“Standby power is an important issue for consumer electronic equipment manufacturers owing to both rising energy costs and the emergence of green consumers who are concerned about their carbon footprint,” Carbon Trust Investments partner Adam Workman said.
There's a lot at stake. In the U.K., for example, the standby usage of the country’s 25 million mobile telephone chargers alone is estimated to consume energy equivalent to the annual electricity needs of 16,000 homes.
CamSemi CEO David Baillie said the funding round will be used toward product development, sales, marketing, and expansion.
The Carbon Trust's mission is to move to a low carbon economy by helping business and the public sector reduce carbon emissions. Carbon Trust Investments has funded nine companies in the last four years.